There are many students who enroll in IGNOU, the review of literature can be the most complicated part of the project work. This is particularly true when working on the ignou mcom course, where academic depth is expected, but the guidance feels limited. Students usually ask whether they require a summation of their books, rewrite journal articles, or simply collect quotes. The truth lies somewhere between, and understanding that a distinction could alter the quality of the entire project.
A review of literature is not meant to display how much material you have read. It is written to show your understanding of the available research on the topic you're studying and how your idea fits in with it. IGNOU reviewers are attentive to this chapter since it showcases your ability to connect the research directions with your theory.
Understanding the Purpose of Review of Literature
Before writing anything, however, it is vital to understand the reason this chapter is essential to an ignou MCOM project. Literature reviews serve three main purposes.
First, it shows that the topic you chose was studied before and has academic significance. Thirdly, it assists you detect gaps or deficiencies in prior research. It also provides an understanding of research objectives and methodological.
Many students take this chapter as a formality and duplicate content from previous assignments or online sources. This often results in very low marks or projects being rejected. IGNOU expects original writing even when examining existing studies.
What IGNOU Expects in Literature Review
IGNOU does not require students to write on the scale of a PhD thesis. The same time it is recommended that students write in a simple way. as well discouraged. For a project involving ignou MCOM, the review of literature must reflect the postgraduate understanding.
You will be required to read research papers, books journals, reports, and sometimes, government publications related to your research area. The emphasis should be placed on studies which are directly related to your area of study.
If, for instance, your research focuses on the financial performance of banks and banks, then your literature search should examine earlier research related to financial ratios, financial performance, profitability analysis, and risk evaluation.
Selecting Relevant Literature Sources
The most common mistake students make is to select too many irrelevant sources. It is the quality that matters more than the quantity. For an ignou-mcom project it is recommended that you use between 15 and 20 sturdy sources is usually sufficient when they're well-chosen.
A good source is academic journals highly regarded books by well-known the authors RBI publication, reports from the government, as well as university research papers. Websites with ambiguous authorship should be avoided.
Always look for studies that are more recent particularly those that have been published in the last ten years. Studies from the past can be considered but only if it is foundational in their nature.
Organizing the Review of Literature Chapter
A well-organized chapter increases readability and impression. Instead of composing random summaries, break up each literature overview into logical sections.
You may organize the chapter according to themes, time period methods, or variables investigated. For example, one section might discuss studies on profitability, while another could focus upon liquidity, while another focused on the efficiency of operations.
The structure can aid evaluators in understanding that you are not just taking content and copying it, but also analyzing it.
Writing Style for IGNOU Literature Review
The writing style should be scholarly but straightforward. Avoid dense language and excessive language. IGNOU values clarity over complexity.
Each research study you write about should include the name of the author, year of study, purpose, method, and most important results. Be careful not to list them in a formal manner. It is best to connect one study with another.
For instance, following discussion of the findings of one study, you could refer to how an author's findings were supported or challenged those findings. The comparative approach adds more depth to your ignou MCOM project.
Avoiding Common Writing Mistakes
A common error is to compose the literature review in the form of the kind of chapter in a textbook. In explaining the basics of concepts like definition of accounting or the significance of management is not a good idea here unless directly linked to previous research.
Another error is overquoting. Your literature review should be written in the style of your personal words. The use of paraphrasing indicates understanding, whereas copying shows dependence.
Students are also prone to not linking books to their own research focus. Each study you reference should have a clear link to your project objectives.
Connection of Literature Review with Research Gap
The most important results of the examination of literature is identifying the research gap. IGNOU evaluations expect you to explain what the previous researchers missed or indicate areas where further research is required.
In a discussion of multiple studies you'll see that most research focuses on large enterprises but small companies were unaddressed. And earlier studies used secondary data, while primary data was not as extensive.
This void is the reason for your IGNOU mcom project. Without it, your plan could appear to be repetitive.
Use of Citations and Referencing
When writing a review of literature It is vital to have a correct citation. IGNOU generally recognizes APA style, however coherence is more important than perfection.
Each study must be mentioned in the reference list at the end of the project. Missing references create doubts about authenticity.
Avoid footnotes during a literature review. Citation in text is more effective and appears cleaner in an ignou mcom project.
Length of Review of Literature Chapter
Students often inquire about how long the writing review must run. There is no fixed rule in the case of an ignou MCOM project this chapter generally spans from fifteen to at to two thousand.
The length should be determined by the level of complexity of the topic. For a broad topic, you will need more research, while a concentrated topic will require less but deeper discussions.
Unnecessarily lengthy reviews with no analysis is not going to improve your marks.
Example of Literature Review Writing Approach
Instead of writing as this
Author A has studied banking's performance and obtained good results
Write this way
This author conducted a research study on bank performance by using financial ratios. He concluded that profitability increased because of improved asset management. This conclusion was later validated by Author B who stressed the importance of operational efficiency in enhancing the bank's returns.
This approach emphasizes understanding and analysis, which is a must in an MCOM project.
Maintaining Originality and Academic Integrity
IGNOU takes plagiarism very seriously. Many projects are blocked or rejected because of copied literature reviews. Even if the reference is to previously published studies, the style you use must reflect the original.
Use plagiarism checking tools as possible. Rewrite content to make it sound natural. A sentence that is slightly imperfect is superior to copied perfection.
Final Review Before Submission
Before you submit your ignou mcom project, go through the literature review thoroughly. Find out if the study you are reviewing is relevant, whether your flow follows logically and if the chapter is logically linked to your research objectives.
Ask yourself one simple question. Does this chapter explain the reasons why my study is required. If the answer is yes, then your review on literature will be in the best path.
Closing Thoughts
Writing a review of literature for an ignou-mcom project may be daunting at first, especially for students returning back to their academics after a period of. But once you know that it's an analysis and connection, rather than recitation, the challenge becomes manageable.
You should take the time to read, think, and write in your personal voice. This effort will be evident into the final version of your work. This often determines the difference between an average submission and a well-crafted one.